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Upturn in January market for Connells South West region

01 February 2012

There has been a 23 per cent increase in home sales in January 2012 compared to January 2011, according to local estate agency Connells in the South West.

The award-winning national agency, which has 12 prominent offices across Devon and Somerset, has seen a surge of buyers entering the market in 2012, a trend which it believes will continue as the year progresses.

“We’ve seen a significant increase in sales over January fuelled by a greater interest in the property market coming into 2012,” says John Waldron, Area Director for Connells.

“The number of people viewing properties through our branches in January is up by around 7 per cent compared to last year so with sales figures being ahead of the viewings we can deduce that buyers in 2012 are in a much more decisive frame of mind and prepared to make buying decisions,” John continues.

Following January’s surge in activity, Connells is looking forward to the expected spring rush of house hunters to the market. According to its figures, Connells ‘January Sale’ campaign helped generate interest amongst buyers but interestingly not all sales were of ‘Sale’ properties.

“Many of the sales achieved in January were for properties that came onto the market in the same month and were snapped up very quickly,” says John. “Currently Connells in the West Country is selling around 75 per cent of everything available. The biggest misconception from buyers currently is that they will not be able to move but our figures prove completely the opposite so I would urge anyone who is thinking of buying to get in touch.

“Similarly, a market where we are selling the majority of homes that come onto the market is usually associated with, dare I say ‘boom’ conditions,” John continues. “Certainly, if you are thinking of selling at the moment then the current shortage may indicate that it's the right time to make a move.”

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Further informationFor further information and photography, please contact the press office on 01525 218536 or email Julia Brook, Group PR Manager: Julia.brook@connells.co.uk or Christine Webb, Group PR Executive: Christine.webb@connells.co.uk

Notes to editors

About the Connells Group:Founded in 1936 and comprising of 481 branches nationwide, the industry-leading Connells Group is the most profitable UK estate agency network. In addition to operating under the Connells brand, the Group trades under other well-known local names including Allen & Harris, Bagshaws Residential, Barnard Marcus, Brown & Merry, Fox & Sons, Jones & Chapman, Manners & Harrison, Roger Platt, Shipways, Swetenhams, William H Brown, Sharman Quinney, Pattison Lane, Burchell Edwards and Ashley Adams. As well as residential property sales and lettings, the Group has a comprehensive range of B2C and B2B services including new homes, mortgage services, conveyancing, EPCs, surveying, corporate lettings, asset management, land & planning, LPA receivers, auctions and relocations. The Connells Group is consistently named Best Large Estate Agency at the Estate Agency of the Year awards, winning the top prize for four of the past six years. It is also highly acclaimed in the New Homes category, winning Gold five times in the last six years, and in the Financial Services category for which it currently holds the Gold prize. For more information, please visit www.connells.co.uk